CAPTAIN BIFF’S BRAWL BOYS

Star suspended for inciting junior footy fight

SOUTHPORT Tigers captain Ken Edwards has been banned from rugby league for seven weeks after inciting a wild brawl at a juniors’ game.

Edwards will take no further part in his team’s winning season after whipping his brother’s under-17 team into a violent frenzy.

A judiciary hearing was told Edwards was a trainer for the Southport juniors when he repeatedly told players to use violence against their Cudgen opponents.

A brawl involving most of the players on the field then erupted.

Southport is favourite to win the Gold Coast’s Bycroft Cup and has lodged an appeal against Edwards’ suspension.

ONE of the elite players in the Gold Coast’s local rugby league competition used a junior footy game to incite a wild brawl which ended in multiple teenage players being marched from the field.

A judiciary rubbed out Southport Tigers captain Ken Edwards for the remainder of the season after he used his position as a trainer for his brother’s under-17 team to whip the teenagers into a violent frenzy.

At a hearing it was alleged the 22-year-old repeatedly told South- port junior players to use physical violence against their opponents from Cudgen at Pizzey Park.

There were also allegations he offered incentives to the Southport players to fight but that has not been substantiated.

The out-of-control brawl on August 10, which involved most of the players, stunned onlookers.

Administrators were forced to ask Edwards to leave the ground.

He then became involved in a verbal altercation with a match official and senior Burleigh administrator.

Edwards has been banned by the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League from any involvement with the sport for seven weeks and has been handed a 12-month suspended sentence to ensure against any future misconduct.

Southport, who are favourites to win the Gold Coast’s Bycroft Cup, have lodged an appeal with the South East Division of the Queensland Rugby League.

Their chances of winning the title would be greatly diminished if Edwards cannot have his ban overturned by an appeals panel tomorrow night.

He is regarded as the competition’s premier backrower and one of the most recognisable players behind clubmate and former Titans star Preston Campbell.

Gold Coast Junior Rugby League operations manager Gary Phillips said Edwards was suspended for violating the QRL’s code of behaviour and for bringing the game into disrepute.

‘‘The case was heard by the local league disciplinary tribunal and they sentenced him based on the information gathered from witnesses.’’

QRL South East Division manager Michael Pease said his organisation’s tribunal would decide if the GCJRL’s investigation, findings and penalty were correct.

‘‘He (Edwards) has appealed the findings of the Gold Coast juniors disciplinary tribunal,’’ he said.

‘‘Both parties will present their views on the matter and all we’re looking at is whether the findings of the Gold Coast juniors’ disciplinary process is fair and just.

‘‘We need to have a look at what’s happened there and if it’s a breach of the QRL rules.’’

Southport Tigers Seniors secretary Tom Orr said the club was confident Edwards’s suspension would be overturned.

‘‘We’re going to the appeal with the expectation of having him cleared to play on Sunday.

‘‘He’s our captain . . . without a player of his ability, it leaves a big hole in the side.’’

If tomorrow’s appeal is unsuccessful, a final appeal can be made to the Queensland Rugby League.